Why am I angry? - Is Toxoplasma gondii - things to me?

So there is an article in today's Australian and on New Scientist

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2082105-explosive-road-rage-like-anger-linked-to-parasite-spread-by-cats/

I learned about this parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, at uni. It's life cycle is in the guts of cats (or other predators I guess) and the brains of prey (mice). Guess what? People get it too - in the brain.

It was well known that mice infected with it were risk takers, and the evolutionary explanation is that it makes them more likely to get predated.
So this is interesting research. I wonder if I have T. gondii sitting in my amygdala (bottom reptilian fight/flight brain)?

I have lived with cats on and off for many years, including cleaning up their messes.

Maybe I am the mouse that roars? Or am I just a viking trapped in the 21st century?

 

The sometime beserker in Eric the Viking

T. gondii life cycle

cyst full of T. gondii - who needs science fiction?

Brain scan - not mine, but is it the same?

 

Comments

[Paul]

All factors should be considered. But at the end of the day, we are not robots.

[Thygocanberra]

As our Act says, "for the avoidance of doubt", I am not making a case that I, or others, have no control or responsibility.
But I do think both things are in play. Knowing what the biophysical things that might be predisposing factors are can be helpful in addressing it, rather than be a blank cheque excuse.

I wish I could have added, in my dead end edit, the little video from Erik the Viking ... I really liked that movie.

[Paul]

I used to have this debate with my father. He always had a deterministic explanation for anger, depression because of a chemical imbalance etc. I always attributed more to free will.